The German media group Axel Springer, which acquired Britain’s Daily Telegraph earlier this year, has initiated a formal consultation process with staff amid reports of impending layoffs. The move comes as the company seeks to implement structural changes to meet the new owner’s strategic objectives.

Carolin Hulshoff Pol, CEO of Telegraph Media Group since June, communicated to employees that the organisation needs to “create efficiencies” to support its transformation plans. Hulshoff Pol outlined a vision to evolve The Telegraph from a traditional British newspaper into a global, AI-driven premium media and intelligence business. She emphasized that this future would be based on trusted journalism, strong audience relationships, and specialised expertise.

In her memo, Hulshoff Pol noted that the changes would involve adjustments to organisational structure, decision-making processes, and resource allocation. She referred to the process as “difficult choices” but described them as necessary for the long-term sustainability of the business. The consultation period marks the start of discussions with staff on the proposed changes.

Reports from media outlets have suggested that up to 100 employees could be affected by redundancies. However, a Telegraph Media Group spokeswoman, while confirming the memo’s circulation, declined to provide specific details regarding the scale of job losses.

Axel Springer, known for its ownership of German outlets Bild and Welt, as well as the Politico news platform, completed its acquisition of The Telegraph’s print and digital operations in April, with a purchase price of £575 million ($769 million). The transaction followed nearly three years of attempts by other prospective buyers to acquire the 170-year-old, right-leaning British newspaper, all of which ultimately fell through. The acquisition was cleared by the UK Labour government, which did not oppose the sale on competition or foreign ownership grounds.

At the time of the acquisition, Axel Springer’s CEO Matthias Döpfner committed to significant investment aimed at enhancing The Telegraph’s editorial quality and expanding its international reach. The Telegraph Media Group currently employs around 1,923 people worldwide.

The ongoing restructuring underscores the challenges traditional media faces in adapting to shifting market dynamics, digital innovation, and evolving consumer habits. Axel Springer’s efforts reflect a broader industry trend of integrating artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches while maintaining editorial integrity.